Author: Kris Bales

With the end of another school year fast approaching for many of us, you may be struggling to keep everyone (including yourself!) on task. The five ideas I’m sharing here are a mix of celebratory and have-to (depending on where you live) reminders. 1. Hold a homeschool recognition ceremony. I am so thankful for the lady in our homeschool group who has faithfully organized a year-end recognition ceremony for many, many years now. This will be our first year to participate. Yes, I know that’s a little sad. In the past, the ceremony has always seemed to fall on...

It has come to my attention that the homeschooling community may need some guidelines. You know, to keep things running smoothly. To that end, I give you The 10 Commandments of Homeschooling. As per my usual way of doing things, there’s a little humor and a little seriousness, so read at your own risk. 1. Thou shalt socialize thy children. That’s the cardinal rule of homeschooling, right? If you really want to buck the system, though, I’ve got tips for making sure you raise the weird, unsocialized version of homeschooled kids. 2. Thou shalt not allow thy library fines...

Academics usually take the focus of preparation for life after high school, but the teen years are a great time for practicing other necessary life skills. While there are probably dozens of skills that fall under the “necessary life skills” heading, following are six that I feel are important for most teenagers. 1. Filling out a job application The teen years are when many kids are seeking out their first part-time jobs. While the process of filing out a job application can seem pretty straightforward, it doesn’t hurt to practice it and make sure your teen has all the...

Along with difficulty reading, difficulty spelling is a hallmark of dyslexia. While dyslexia is something that can’t be “cured,” there are a great number of tools to help a dyslexic overcome many of its challenges, including difficulty spelling. Do you wonder what to look for in a spelling program for dyslexic students? I’ve found 7 components to be key for us. 1. Orton-Gillingham based Orton-Gillingham is an approach to reading instruction developed in the early 1930’s by neuropsychiatrist, Samuel Orton and educator and psychiatrist, Anna Gillingham. It is a language-based, multisensory, systematic approach that has been shown to be...

For new homeschooling families or those relocating, connecting with local homeschooling families can be difficult. Where do homeschoolers go to find co-ops and educational, sporting, or social opportunities?